Newswise — While some young scientists get their start doing experiments in kitchens and garages, a group of junior high students from West Fargo, N.D., set up experiments for a NASA challenge in their own basements. Mentored by a North Dakota State University professor, the group’s efforts have won them first place in NASA’s Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challenge and if timing works out, a chance to witness the final launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on Friday afternoon.
Achintya Bezbaruah, assistant professor of environmental engineering at North Dakota State University, Fargo, advised the group of young researchers who stepped up to the challenge presented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The NASA competition aimed to find a design that converts human urine and wastewater into drinkable water, creating a water recycling system that can be used by astronauts living on other planets. Transporting supplies, including water, to the International Space Station (ISS) costs about $20,000 per kilogram.
In the competition, teams designed, constructed and tested a water recycling system on a simulated wastewater stream. They then submitted the results of their work for review by NASA. The West Fargo team, advised by Bezbaruah, devoted more than 800 research hours to come up with the winning design concept. Students worked together as a research group, with weekly research meetings and conducted their experiment following the engineering design process. The NDSU College of Architecture and Engineering sponsored the project.
The West Fargo, N.D., junior high students tested activated carbon, zeolites, ion-exchange resin, baking soda, vinegar and how simple storage can remove ammonia from water. Each student ran different systems in their basements. The young scientists estimate the wastewater treated using their winning system will cost $2,000 per liter, as compared to the present $20,000 per liter. The young research team is comprised of six 7th and 8th grade students from the West Fargo, N.D., STEM Center, a Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-focused extension of Cheney Middle School.
As the top design team in the country, the students and Bezbaruah are receiving a trip to the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida where they are meeting with NASA scientists and engineers to present their project. If the timing works out, they will also view the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station. An estimated 300 students nationwide were involved in the NASA competition, with twenty middle school teams selected as finalists in the Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challenge’s inaugural year, according to NASA.
More information:NASA Waste Limitation Management and Recycling Design Challengehttp://www.nasa.gov/exploration/multimedia/highlights/2010-16B.htmlNDSU College of Engineering and Architecturehttp://www.ndsu.edu/cea/NDSU – Dr. Achintya Bezbaruahhttp://www.ce.ndsu.nodak.edu/faculty/bezboyuah.htmlWest Fargo, N.D., Public School STEM Centerhttp://www.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/schools/stemcenter/North Dakota State Universityhttp://www.ndsu.edu/
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